Board of Commissioners approved major road improvements this week
Featured Stories, News September 2, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — The Board of Commissioners approved two major road projects during Monday’s work session and called meeting.
The Board awarded a contract to Square Deal Enterprises, Inc. for installation of a bottomless aluminum box culvert at Barrett Mill Road in the amount of $247,954. The existing pipes have reached the end of service life and the road is subject to flooding during heavy rainfall events. The funding source is the 2020 SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax.
The public works department has been working to prepare May White and Hester roads for paving. On Monday, the Board approved a contract with Allied Paving Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $381,336.50 for surface preparation and paving a total of 1.73 miles on the two roads.
The Board also approved:
- A contract with ACG in the amount of $17,373.80 for expansion of the County’s Watch Dog security system to include the Public Works facility;
- The allocation of Title 1 funds from the Secure Rural Schools Act;
- A revision of the County’s Personnel Management System to allow employees a paid time off (PTO) cash out policy in which they can cash out up to 40 hours of PTO twice a year. Expense for this item ($340,000) was approved in the FY 2023 budget.
- A request by Jessica McClary to grant a conditional use permit (CUP) on 1.58 acres at 3253 Hwy 75 in Cleveland for the purpose of entering the County’s short-term rental program.
The Board also approved the purchase of two Dominion voting machines at a cost of $18,636 and a contract with Dominion for technical services during the 2022 General Election. Those two items were covered in an article by Fetch Your News earlier this week.
BOC moves to provide free, fair elections and comply with Election Integrity Act of 2021
Business, News August 31, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — With an increase in the number of registered voters in White County in the last year, the Board of Commissioners made a significant investment at Monday’s meeting to ensure a fair and accurate General Election in November.
The first came with the introduction of Jody Davis who began working as the County’s Election Supervisor in August.
Davis served as a U.S. Army officer for 23 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Arizona State University and a Masters Degree in Business Administration. Most recently, he served as an area manager for the Douglas County Board of Elections and Registration where he was responsible for hiring, staffing and training for five precincts that serve 10,000 people.
Davis said the County has added about 50 registered voters per month for the last year. In 2021, the Georgia Legislature passed SB 202 –the Elections Integrity Act — which requires one voting machine for every 250 voters. Davis said right now the County needs two more machines in order to be in compliance.
The Board then unanimously approved the purchase two machines from Dominion voting for $18,636.30.
The Board also approved a contract with Dominion Voting to provide technical assistance for the November General Election to include three days pre-election logic and accuracy support, three days election support and one-day, post-election support from Dominion voting for an amount not to exceed $12,100. If the post-election support is determined not to be needed, that will reduce the cost by $2,200.
County will introduce new Elections Supervisor
Business, News August 25, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — White County Commissioners will introduce new County Elections Supervisor Jody Davis to the public when they meet Monday, Aug. 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the County Administration Building
The Board will also consider:
- Dustin Borth’s request to approve a conditional use permit (CUP) for 1.107 acres at 10 Caffus Abernathy Road in Helen to be included in the County’s short-term rental program;
- LJ Grizzard’s request to approve a conditional use permit (CUP) for 1.58 acres at 3253 Hwy. 75 Alternate in Cleveland to be placed into the County’s short-term rental program;
- Purchase of additional elections equipment;
- An agreement with Dominion Voting for technical assistance for the 2022 General Election to include three days pre-election logic and accuracy support and one day post election support;
- Approval of a quote from ACG Solutions for the installation of security cameras at the Public Works Facility;
- Award of the Barrett Mill Road aluminum box culvert construction contract;
- Award of contract for surface preparation and paving on May White Road and Hester Road;
- Election for allocation of secure Rural Schools Act funds;
- Adoption of a resolution establishing the policy for employee paid time off;
- Approval of a contract for employee assistance program services with one-source counseling;
- Financial Director Jodi Ligon’s presentation of the monthly financial report